Washington Governor Gregoire attends opening of TransAlta USA Headquarters

In photo (left to right): Gene Godley, External US Director; Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire; Chair, TransAlta Board of Directors, Ambassador Gordon Giffin; TransAlta CEO, Steve Snyder; President TransAlta USA, Paul Taylor.

Today, Gov. Chris Gregoire joined TransAlta USA President Paul Taylor and TransAlta CEO Steve Snyder at a ribbon cutting celebration for the opening of our new U.S. headquarters in Olympia.  We chose this location because it is near our Centralia operations and centered between Seattle and Portland where we will be meeting with potential customers and future partners. 

Paul Taylor announced at the office opening that TransAlta is planning to expand our assets by investing in high quality generation projects in the western United States. TransAlta has a strong market position with existing assets and energy trading and marketing expertise. We plan on leveraging those strengths for growth. 

The signing of the TransAlta Energy Transition Bill in early 2011 established opportunities for long-term growth across the Pacific Northwest. The bill provides for the orderly transition of the Centralia plant from coal in 2020 and 2025, and allows TransAlta to grow and maintain our presence in the power market while protecting jobs and the community with the $30 million we set aside to assist with the transition. TransAlta is uniquely suited to fill the need for replacement generation with plans to construct a new large-scale natural gas plant at the existing Centralia site.

TransAlta currently owns and operates a natural gas-fired plant in Centralia and has ownership interest in 15 other plants in the U.S. Combined with the Centralia coal plant, we have the capacity to produce more than 2,400 megawatts. 

To learn more, please read the press release and the statement issued by Gov.Gregoire. Additional information is available at www.transalta.com and on our TransAlta USA QuickFacts brochure.

We will provide regular updates on the company’s ongoing efforts in the Pacific Northwest on the community page, so check back often to learn more.
 
If you have questions or feedback, we want to hear from you. Please e-mail us at centralia@transalta.com.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bob Nelson
Director, Centralia Operations